Jack Powys is at a loose end in his life when he comes across an advert requesting assistance with an anthology of the fables, myths and stories relating to the history of a small isle in the West Country. Part of the deal is that he lives in one of the four terrace houses which front the sea but are subject to subsidence and frequent power cuts. The dynamic between Jack and his enigmatic neighbours sets into play a series of events which soon spiral out of control. Jack finds himself becoming entangled in a web of stories which lead him into a closed world of intrigue, desire, crime and mystery. Reaching a breath-taking climax, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish myth from reality.